Rugby-Burns blunders cost Bath chance of win over Toulouse

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Oct 13 (Reuters) - Bath’s Freddie Burns may have wished the Recreation Ground pitch could have swallowed him up after a nightmarish three minutes against Toulouse in a European Champions Cup match that condemned his team to a 22-20 defeat on Saturday.

The hosts were trailing by two points in their opening European game against the four-times champions with seven minutes to play when they were awarded a penalty in front of the posts.

Burns stepped up and his simple kick hit the post, but worse was to come.

Semesa Rokoduguni’s break moments later led to Burns darting through the French side’s defence and running over the line.

Already smiling and celebrating, the 28-year-old was gently reaching down with the ball completely unaware that he had been tracked by Toulouse’s Maxime Medard who expertly knocked it from Burns’ hand before it hit the turf.

The fullback was taken off by his coach shortly afterwards.

“We’ve got far bigger issues than Freddie dropping the ball or missing that kick,” said Bath captain Rhys Priestland. “It’s something for us to talk about, celebrating before scoring tries. Freddie hasn’t cost us the game. We weren’t good enough.

“But, as a squad, I can’t believe we do celebrate before we put the ball down. It’s not the first time. I honestly don’t know what boys think they’re going to achieve by doing it. For me, that’s non-negotiable. We can’t do it again.”

Bath director of rugby Todd Blackadder told the BBC that he replaced Burns because he was “a little bit” mentally shot.